To hell and back to Save the Arctic

This morning at 4 a.m. I hugged my fellow climbers good luck before heading out to climb Gazprom's oil platform, the Prirazlomnaya, from the Arctic Sunrise.

It was a terrifying moment for me as I jumped into the inflatable boat in total darkness; I knew the Russian Coast Guard was waiting for us. They had been on our tail since Monday, watching our every move, and I could see the huge water cannons in the distance. But we had a mission and we were determined: to stop the world’s first oil from being produced from ice-filled Arctic waters.

It didn't take long to reach the platform and when I did, two of the climbers had already managed to get a line up so we could start our ascent. Before I had a chance to scale the platform, two boats headed towards us from the Coast Guard vessel, with people wearing military camouflage clothing and balaclavas. It felt like I was living through a horror movie as they rammed into us. My fellow climber, Sini, fell into the water. Sini looked scared but I know she's incredibly brave — I admire her so much. We rescued her from the water but they made it extremely difficult for us by continuing to ram our boats.

Amongst all the commotion I heard a gunshot. They were shouting at us in Russian so I couldn't understand what they were saying but they were pointing guns and knives at us so I knew they were threatening us. All we could do was raise our hands and explain that we were here to protest peacefully. Then I heard another shot. I was so scared for myself and everyone in the inflatables but I was particularly scared for my two friends on the line. Sini, who had managed to get back onto the rope was in a vulnerable position and Kruso who had made it up quite high was being pelted by the water cannons. I never imagined in all my life I'd be threatened with a gun, especially when doing a peaceful non-violent Greenpeace protest.

Half an hour on and the guns were still being fired into the air and water. Sini and Kruso were still taking the brunt of the water cannons — it looked so heavy on their heads. After some time they decided they couldn't go on any longer and started their descent. But the workers on the platform didn't notice or didn’t listen — they carried on firing the water cannons at them and the Coast Guards started pulling their ropes so they'd land in their boat instead.

They took my friends without saying a word and headed back to the Coast Guard ship. My heart stopped for them. The gunshots continued and I wondered how far these people were willing to go to stop us from peacefully protesting against Arctic oil.

I'm back on the Arctic Sunrise where I am safe and warm. But my heart is with my friends and I won't be happy until we're all back together.

The Coast Guard has threatened to open fire on the Arctic Sunrise if we don't leave the area. But of course, they did all this to protect Gazprom and its dangerous Arctic oil ambitions. The real threat to the Arctic is not from Greenpeace's peaceful actions or the millions of people who fight alongside us. It is from companies like Gazprom and Shell who will risk this amazing environment for profit.

I don't know what tonight or tomorrow will bring but I do know that we're here to stop Gazprom producing the world's first oil from the icy waters of the Arctic.

Camila Speziale is a Greenpeace activist from Argentina on the Arctic Oil Tour.

I'd say that you got very lucky that you weren't shot at sight when you tried to scale the platform. I wouldn't call trespassing of 3-mile...

I'd say that you got very lucky that you weren't shot at sight when you tried to scale the platform. I wouldn't call trespassing of 3-mile zone and trying to infiltrate into a strategic Russian facility a "peaceful protest"

That is on pure logical comment. When you go for direct violation of some country's law you are supposed to await that your actions will be prosec...

That is on pure logical comment. When you go for direct violation of some country's law you are supposed to await that your actions will be prosecuted in all ways according to the laws and procedures of that particular country. Drop that "save the XXXXX" talks and just obey the law.

Its the strict following of law and not asking questions that has led us to the point where we are tipping the very balance of nature.
Obey the ...

Its the strict following of law and not asking questions that has led us to the point where we are tipping the very balance of nature.
Obey the Law and watch everything degrade.Question things and you will get a better understanding of the world around you.

Everything degrades when there is no law - why don't you ask your questions in the democratically elected chambers of your individual countries li...

Everything degrades when there is no law - why don't you ask your questions in the democratically elected chambers of your individual countries like everybody else.

Proof of flagrant breaking of the laws of the sea with a clown in the water in front of the seismic vessel which in the photo shows the vessel displaying a ball, a diamond and a ball vertically. This means a vessel is "limited in its ability to manoeveur" - all vessels except those "not under command" (broken down) are required to give way - Greenpeace has posted evidence of someone having been dropped into the water in front of this vessel - got to jail - dangerous!

Is this child-like campaign about "saving the arctic", anti-oil or what. What is the alternative to oil?

What has Greenpeace done that is constructive lately - have they come up with policy for an alternative to oil that we can all decide is the right one?

Don't you realize that there are only to things stopping the "evil guards" to seriously harm "peaceful protesters" attacking a...

Don't you realize that there are only to things stopping the "evil guards" to seriously harm "peaceful protesters" attacking a high-security installation: their personal evil humanity and pity for that bunch of stupid youngsters? This comment is not only regarding the situation described in the article above.

This is so irresponsible and very instigating. If you really want a "peaceful protest" go to Gazprom headquarters in Moscow and protest ther...

This is so irresponsible and very instigating. If you really want a "peaceful protest" go to Gazprom headquarters in Moscow and protest there; many journalists will spawn to see you and speak with you.

I do not think Greenpeace dare to do ANY action in Moscow at Gazprom's Headquarter !!!! It will not take 15 minutes and the protesters will be re...

I do not think Greenpeace dare to do ANY action in Moscow at Gazprom's Headquarter !!!! It will not take 15 minutes and the protesters will be removed by russian authorities............... and then we will face another episode of crying, jammer and lamentation ................. these brave "heros" will be treated SO badly by these BAD russians !!!!! :-)

"Peaceful protest" - whom are these clowns trying to fool? How much does it cose to run this type of ship and how much is all that brand-new...

"Peaceful protest" - whom are these clowns trying to fool? How much does it cose to run this type of ship and how much is all that brand-new equipment and best protective clothes they are using? Who pays for it?

I hope "friends" will get real jail time - they will have time to think which political interests they really protect under false pretense of "defending the nature".

These greenpeace actions deserve deep respect. The activists fight for a noble purpose. Clearly without violence. No guns, no beating and no harm to p...

These greenpeace actions deserve deep respect. The activists fight for a noble purpose. Clearly without violence. No guns, no beating and no harm to people. Even our russian friends here (@Prokuror Medved, Vsevolod et al.) will benefit once greenpeace succeeds in stopping the drilling.

I would benefit if these activists find a cause in their own countries instead of serving foreign interests on Russian soil disguised as nature preser...

I would benefit if these activists find a cause in their own countries instead of serving foreign interests on Russian soil disguised as nature preservation concern.

An update: the coast guard boarded the ship from the helicopter because the captain refused to obey their orders. "Greenpeace" claims this is illegal and gives a reference to the UN charter - in vain hope that no-one will bother to read it. Here's one excerpt:

"1. In the exclusive economic zone, the coastal State has:
...
(b) jurisdiction as provided for in the relevant provisions of this Convention with regard to:
...
(iii) the protection and preservation of the marine environment;"

We are all global citizens. I think any cause someone feels strongly about is a cause worth fighting for. It also seems to me that "protection of the marine environment" does not include the use of force on peaceful protesters and invading a ship in international waters.

Action is not an alternative to dealing with medias and politicians. Action is Greenpeace's last resort in a world ruled by corporations.
T...

Action is not an alternative to dealing with medias and politicians. Action is Greenpeace's last resort in a world ruled by corporations.
Those who have to keep themselves warm may use renewable energy sources. And what about those that have to fight against the rising temperatures? Drilling the Arctic will kill them.

Some pretty straight-line black and white logic - how did polar bears survive the last many previous global warmings?

So everyone who do...

Some pretty straight-line black and white logic - how did polar bears survive the last many previous global warmings?

So everyone who doesn't like something needs to obstruct the people conducting their lawful business. These eco-terrorists/eco-pirates are being duped by the Greenpeace PR machine - most Greenpeace members come from democracies where dissent is tolerated but also where polices are determined by people elected to make the decisions. You can't have it both ways.

Dumb move to take the Russians on guys! But your puppet masters will milk your sacrifice for all they're worth.This will be very different for these guys sitting in a gulag (or executed maybe) from staying in the yert, smoking pot convincing themselves that only they are right and being conned by the half-truths on the internet (by solar-powered iPhone of course - made of bamboo?).